Single force strut for dual sided cargo box

ABSTRACT

Arrangement for providing and controlling operation of a dual sided opening roof mount cargo box ( 10 ) for a carrying vehicle. A dual sided opening roof mount cargo box ( 10 ) is provided and which has a lid portion ( 30 ) releasably hinge-connected at two lateral sides to a bottom portion ( 32 ) of the cargo box ( 10 ) for alternate pivotation at each of the two lateral sides between open and closed configurations. The bottom portion ( 32 ) is adapted to be mounted to a carrying vehicle and the lid portion ( 30 ) is manufactured from a semi-flexible material sufficiently pliable to permit two opposite end regions thereof to be at different relative distances from the bottom portion ( 32 ) of the cargo box ( 10 ) during transition between the open and closed configurations. A pair of spring-biased struts ( 50 ) are also provided, each operatively interposed between the lid portion ( 30 ) and the bottom portion ( 32 ) of the cargo box ( 10 ), and one each of the pair of spring-biased struts ( 50 ) being located at the two opposite end regions of the cargo box. An expansively directed force is imposed on the lid portion ( 30 ), utilizing the pair of spring-biased struts ( 50 ), across a substantial entirety of travel of the lid portion ( 30 ) during operator induced movement from the closed configuration to the open configuration and thereby assisting the operator to smoothly open the cargo box ( 10 ).

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present patent application claims the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 60/481,491 filed 9 Oct. 2003. Said application isexpressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

An arrangement of the nature of the present disclosure is found in U.S.Pat. No. 5,546,705, which is hereby expressly incorporated herein byreference for purposes of disclosure as part of the present writtendescription.

Vehicular mountable cargo containers, of the variety commonly referredto as cargo boxes, are well known. As in the instant depicted in U.S.Pat. No. 5,546,705, one type of such a carrier is roof mounted, andamong those, there is a particular type that the present applicantrefers to as being a Dual Sided Opening cargo box.

As described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,546,705, a dual-force strut (or struts)can be used between the two halves of the container that provide aopening spring force when in a range of motion approaching the openconfiguration and an opposite direction closing spring force when in arange of motion approaching the closed configuration. A distincttransition regarding the direction of the force (from urged extension tourged retraction) occurs therebetween. In the instance of the strut'sclosing force, that, together with the weight of the top can, instead ofassisting the operator, cause the top to undesirably slam shut.

In another aspect, when two struts are used, one at each end of thecargo box as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,546,705, the relatively strongforces imposed by the struts can result in the two ends of the box bothopening and closing in an imbalanced manner (one gets ahead of the otherin the direction that is being urged by the operator, or the two strutsapply different direction urgings with respect to each other at the sametime; that is, one strut is urging closure while the other strut isurging opening. This detrimentally results in a twisting or torquing ofthe usually semi-flexible box-top which presents as misbehavior ormal-performance of the product to the operator.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In at least one exemplary embodiment, the present invention takes theform of a method for providing and controlling operation of a dual sidedopening roof mount cargo box that is designed to be installed upon acarrying vehicle such as a automobile. It should be appreciated,however, that the cargo box does not necessarily have to be actuallyinstalled upon a vehicle to constitute an example of this embodiment ofthe invention. The method includes providing a dual sided opening roofmount cargo box having a lid portion releasably hinge-connected at twolateral sides to a bottom portion of the cargo box. With two releasablehinge connections, one on each long-side of the box, by keeping one sidehinge-connected and the opposite side's hinge released, the box can beopened at the released side by pivoting the lid portion about the stillfastened, opposite hinge connection. This arrangement is known as beingdual sided opening in the cargo box carrier technologies (for example,see U.S. Pat. No 5,546,705 referred to hereinabove), and with respect tothe present invention, is recited as being for accommodating alternatepivotation at each of the two lateral sides between open and closedconfigurations of the cargo box.

In keeping therewith, the bottom portion is adapted to be mounted to thecarrying vehicle. Such adaptation can take any of a number of forms andincludes tightenable assemblies that inter-connect the box to crossbarmembers of vehicular carried rack systems. The lid portion isexemplarily manufactured from a semi-flexible material sufficientlypliable to permit two opposite end regions thereof to be at differentrelative distances from the bottom portion of the cargo box duringtransition between the open and closed configurations. With respect tothe background description provided hereinabove, this characteristic canbe likened to a twisting or torquing of the lid which users typicallywish to avoid, but because of the large size of the lid, and the usualneed to construct the same from relatively inexpensive and thin plastic,the construction of the lid itself usually cannot be, or at least willnot be, sufficiently fortified to prevent such twist.

For theses reasons, this present embodiment of the invention employsuniquely configured and operable support(s) interposed between the lidand bottom portions of the box. This support is established by providinga pair of spring-biased struts, each operatively interposed between thelid portion and the bottom portion of the cargo box. One each of thepair of spring-biased struts is located at the two opposite end regionsof the cargo box.

When an operator opens the box, the support arrangement imposes anexpansively directed force on the lid portion, utilizing the pair ofspring-biased struts, across a substantial entirety of travel of the lidportion during operator induced movement from the closed configurationto the open configuration of the box, and thereby assisting the operatorto smoothly open the cargo box.

In a further development of this exemplary embodiment of the invention,the expansively directed force is controlled, through configuration ofthe pair of spring-biased struts, to have a magnitude that substantiallybalances a weight of the lid portion across a range of motion, T, of thelid portion when operating in proximity of the closed configuration.That is to say, as the lid portion is either departing the bottomportion moving toward the open configuration, or is approaching thebottom portion moving toward the closed configuration, the supports areconfigured so that the force imposed between the lid and bottom portionsof the box in the range of motion occurring when the two box halves areproximate one another is substantially equal to the force stemming fromthe weight of the lid which tends to move the lid to the fully closedposition unless opposed; e.g. the struts.

In a complimentary, but different embodiment, the present inventiontakes the form of a spring-biased strut for a vehicular mountable cargocontainer or box having a top portion hinge-connected for pivotationrelative to a bottom portion of the cargo container. The strut includestwo arms operatively connected for pivotation relative to one anotherthrough a delimited range of motion. In the illustrated embodiment, suchdelimitation is affected using stops that impede further progressivemotion of one of the arms relative to the other.

A biasing spring is operatively interposed between the two arms, and thebiasing spring is configured to be operationally influential on the twoarms during transitions between first and second strut orientations thatcorrespond to open and closed configurations of an incorporatingvehicular mountable cargo container.

The two arms are adapted so that one each is connectable to the top andbottom portions of the vehicular mountable cargo container therebyenabling the strut to deliver an assisting force for urging the cargocontainer into the open configuration. The two arms are configuredrelative to one another, and relative to the biasing spring so thatacross a substantial entirety of the delimited range of relative motionbetween the two arms, and which corresponds to a substantial entirety ofrelative motion between the top and bottom portions of the cargocontainer when transitioning between the open and closed configurations,the assisting force imparted to the cargo container acts in onerotational direction urging the vehicular mountable cargo containertoward the open configuration.

In still a further complementary embodiment, the invention takes theform of a vehicular mountable cargo container having a top portionhinge-connected for pivotation relative to a bottom portion of the cargocontainer between open and closed configurations. A pair ofspring-biased struts are included, each operatively interposed betweenthe top and bottom portions of the vehicular mountable cargo container,and one each of the pair of spring-biased struts located at opposed endregions of the cargo container. Each of the pair of spring-biased strutsis configured to exclusively deliver an assisting expansion forcebetween the top and bottom portions of the cargo container for urgingthe container toward the open configuration. That is to say, the strutsdo not impose or exert a force between the top and bottom portionstending to close the cargo box.

In at least one development of this embodiment of the invention, theforce being purely directed in an opening direction stems from the factthat each of the pair of spring-biased struts is configured to avoid orprevent the delivery or imposition of a closing-assist force between thetop and bottom portions of the cargo container that would urge thecontainer toward the closed configuration. In a further aspect of thisembodiment of the invention, each of the pair of spring-biased struts isconfigured to perform in substantial unison, one with the other, therebyurging maintenance of a parallel orientation of the top portion,relative to the bottom portion of the cargo container when transitionedby an operator between the open and closed configurations.

By way of example, this tendency to urge maintenance of the lid portionin an even or horizontal orientation during transition between the openand closed configurations of the box is fostered by the fact that themagnitude of the opening force imparted by the struts is substantiallyequal to the weight of the lid that is borne thereby, as well of thefact that the strut does not transition between forces that tend to urgethe box halves apart toward the open configuration and forces that tendto urge the box halves together toward the closed configuration asexemplified in the disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 5,546,705. As intimatedabove, if the two distantly spaced apart struts located at opposite endsof the cargo box were to be permitted to assume configurations in whichoppositely directed forces are imposed between the box halves at the twoends of the box, the undesirable torquing or twisting of the lid thathas been described relative to known box configurations would likelyoccur; and it is the avoidance of such misbehavior or mal-performance ofthe box that the present invention is purposed.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a carrying vehicle with a duel sidedopening roof mount cargo box installed thereupon, showing one supportstrut and phantom at a front end thereof;

FIG. 2 is a perspective end view of a closed cargo box showing anexemplary support strut in phantom;

FIG. 3 is a perspective end view of a cargo box open on the right sideand substantially revealing an exemplary support strut, as well as anillustration of the cargo box open on the left side, depicted in dashedlines;

FIG. 4 is a perspective end view of a closed cargo box showing anexemplary support strut in phantom in both open and closedconfigurations, together with an open configuration of the box shown inphantom, the open (O) and closed (C) configurations of the box areindicated, as well as a transitional (T) range of travel, together withan upward (U) range of travel;

FIG. 5 is a schematic side elevational view of a support strut in afirst orientation corresponding to an open configuration of the cargobox;

FIG. 6 is a schematic side elevational view of a support strut in atransitional orientation corresponding to a position between the openand closed configuration of the cargo box;

FIG. 7 is a schematic side elevational view of a support strut in asecond orientation corresponding to a closed configuration of the cargobox; and

FIG. 8 is a detailed schematic side elevational view of the cooperatingportions and elements between the two arms of the support strutsubstantially as depicted in FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Preferred embodiment(s) of the disclosed invention(s) are illustratedand described in the accompanying drawings. Referring to FIG. 1, aperspective view of vehicular mounted cargo container is illustrateddemonstrating in phantom, exemplary placement of one of two strutsconfigured according to the teachings of the present invention(s). InFIG. 2, an end perspective view of the vehicular mounted cargo containerof FIG. 1 is shown in a closed configuration. An end perspective view ofthe vehicular mounted cargo container of FIGS. 1 and 2 is shown in FIG.3 illustrating the dual sided opening feature wherein the right side isopen and the top of the container is shown solidly, while the left sideis shown in an open configuration with the top of the container depictedin phantom.

FIG. 4 depicts the vehicular mounted cargo container of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3hinged at the left side and showing a closed configuration with solidlines and an open configuration shown in phantom. Therein, the openconfiguration of the container is designated with the letter O and theclosed configuration is designated with the letter C. A range of motionover which an upward urging force is imposed by the strut(s) on thecontainer top is designated with the letter U and a range of motion overwhich a transitional urging force is imposed by the struts on thecontainer top is designated with the letter T. In the “T” range ofpossible configurations of the container, a force of substantiallyconstant magnitude is preferably exerted by the strut(s) on thecontainer, and the magnitude is preferably insufficient to independentlymove the container top. In a particularly preferred embodiment, anexpansion force is imposed on the container by the strut(s) that issufficient to assist an operator in opening the top, but not so great asto significantly oppose closing by the operator. FIG. 5 illustrates afirst strut orientation corresponding to an open configuration of thecontainer. FIG. 6 illustrates an intermediate strut orientationcorresponding to an transitional configuration of the container. FIG. 7illustrates a second strut orientation corresponding to a closedconfiguration of the container. FIG. 8 is a detailed view of thecooperative region between the arms (60, 70). A supporting cam surfaceis defined between the O and C delimiters described hereinabove.

Referring to the invention more generally, FIG. 1 depicts a vehicularmountable cargo container (10) comprising a top portion (30) of thevehicular mountable cargo container (10) hinge-connected at two lateralsides (34, 36) for pivotation relative to a bottom portion (32) of thecargo container between the open (O) and closed (C) configurations. Apair of spring-biased struts (50) are also provided, each operativelyinterposed between the top (30) and bottom portions (32) of thevehicular mountable cargo container (10). One each of the pair ofspring-biased struts (50) is located at opposed end regions of the cargocontainer. Each of the pair of spring-biased struts (50) is configuredto exclusively deliver an assisting expansion force between the top (30)and bottom (32) portions of the cargo container (10) for urging thecontainer towards the open (O) configuration.

Each pair of spring-biased struts (50) is configured to at least avoid,and preferably not to deliver a closing-assist force between the top(30) and bottom (32) portions of the cargo container (10) that urges thecontainer towards the closed (C) configuration.

Still further, each of the pair of spring-biased struts (50) isconfigured to perform in substantial unison, one with the other, therebyurging maintenance of a parallel orientation of the top portion (30),relative to the bottom portion (32) of the cargo container (10) whentransitioned by an operator between the open (O) and closed (C)configurations. Complementarily, the substantially unified movement ofthe top portion or lid (30) substantially prevents the inducement oftorque or twist in the top portion (30) relative to the bottom portion(32) of the cargo container (10) when transitioned by the operatorbetween the open (O) and closed (C) configurations.

A cam surface (64) is provided at one of the two arms and establishes asurficial interaction between the two arms during transitions betweenthe first and second strut orientations. A force communication point(C_(P)) is defined by a point of support of the non-cam surfaceincluding arm on the cam-including arm at the cam surface (64), andwhich moves across the cam surface (64) as the two arms pivot relativeto one another between the first and second strut orientations. Duringsuch full range of motion, however the force communication point (C_(P))remains exclusively on one side of a line oriented parallel to adirection of the operationally effective force imposed by the biasingspring between the two arms and intersecting a pivot connection betweenthe two arms. In a preferred embodiment, this line is also orientedsubstantially parallel to a longitudinal axis (V_(L)) of thenon-cam-including arm. In a related aspect, the non-cam-including arm(70) comprises an arm body (72) housing a spring-biased slider therein,the slider being configured for relative reciprocation within the armbody (72) and the slider presenting an engaging surface (48) forestablishing a point of contact with the biasing spring (80) and theslider further presenting a reception surface for establishing a slidingpoint of contact with the cam surface (64) of the cam-including arm(60); the sliding point of contact coinciding with the forcecommunication point (C_(P)). The cam-including arm (60) comprises a camsurface (64), an elongate portion and an elbow (62).

In another embodiment, the invention takes the form of a strut thatincludes two arms (60, 70) operatively connected for pivotation relativeto one another through a delimited range of motion. A biasing spring(80) is operatively interposed between the two arms, and with thebiasing spring being configured to be operationally influential on thetwo arms during transitions between first and second strut orientationsthat correspond to open and closed configurations of an incorporatingvehicular mountable cargo container. The two arms are one eachconnectable to the top and bottom portions of the vehicular mountablecargo container thereby enabling the strut to deliver an assisting forcefor urging the cargo container into the open configuration. Pivotconnections (93, 96) serve to connect the strut (50) to the top (30) andbottom (32) halves of the container. The two arms are configuredrelative to one another and the biasing spring so that across asubstantial entirety of the delimited range of relative motion betweenthe two arms, and which corresponds to a substantial entirety ofrelative motion between the top and bottom portions of the cargocontainer when transitioning between the open and closed configurations,the assisting force imparted to the cargo container acts in onerotational direction urging the vehicular mountable cargo containertoward the open configuration.

Delimiters are provided and configured to limit the range of relativemotion between the two arms so that throughout the entire range oftransitional motion of the strut between the first and second strutorientations, the operationally effective force imposed by the biasingspring between the two arms exclusively urges either one of clockwise orcounter clockwise pivotation of the cam surface including atm relativeto the non-cam surface including arm. In this regard, the arms (60, 70)are pivotally connected at the connection (90), and counter clock-wisemotion of the arm (60) relative to the arm (70) is delimited by a stop,while clock-wise motion of the arm (60) relative to the arm (70) isdelimited by another stop. The cam surface and the biasing spring,together with a pivot connection between the two arms establish acapability for an over-center strut orientation at which the directionof the operationally effective force imposed by the biasing springbetween the two arms would change between exclusively urging the one ofclockwise and counter clockwise pivotation of the cam surface includingarm relative to the non-cam surface including arm, but for thedelimiters.

Referring to FIGS. 5-8, in the illustrated embodiment the non-camsurface including arm houses a spring-biased (see spring 80), rising andfalling slide, carrier or platform (40) that is depicted as beingoperatively interposed between the two arms (60, 70). A ridge (42) onthe arm 70 within an interior space (74) thereof, and a groove (44) onthe translating platform (40) exemplarily cooperate as guides forreciprocating motion of the platform within the non-cam surfaceincluding arm.

In at least one embodiment, the operationally effective force imposed bythe biasing spring between the two arms is constituted as a summation ofa plurality of vector forces imposed by the biasing spring between thetwo arms.

The invention may be alternatively characterized as a method forproviding and controlling operation of a dual sided opening roof mountcargo box (10) for a carrying vehicle. The method includes providing adual sided opening roof mounted cargo box (10) having lid portion (30)releasably hinge-connected at two lateral sides (34, 36) to a bottomportion (32) of the cargo box (10) for alternate pivotation at each ofthe two lateral sides (34, 36) between open and closed configurations.The bottom portion (32) is adapted to be mounted to a carrying vehicleand the lid portion (30) is manufactured from a semi-flexible materialsufficiently pliable to permit two opposite end regions thereof to be atdifferent relative distances from the bottom portion (32) of the cargobox (10) during transition between the open and closed configurations. Apair of spring-biased struts (50) is provided, each operativelyinterposed between the lid portion (30) and the bottom portion (32) ofthe cargo box (10), and one each of the pair of spring-biased struts(50) being located at the two opposite end regions of the cargo box. Anexpansively directed force is exerted on the lid portion (30), utilizingthe pair of spring-biased struts (50), across a substantial entirety oftravel of the lid portion (30) during operator induced movement from theclosed configuration to the open configuration and thereby assisting theoperator to smoothly open the cargo box (10).

The expansively directed force is controlled through configuration ofthe pair of spring-biased struts (50) to have a magnitude thatsubstantially balances a weight of the lid portion (30) across a rangeof motion (T) of the lid portion (30) when operating in proximity of theclosed configuration. This facilitates an operator's even lifting of thelid portion (30) across the range of motion (T) thereby avoidingstrut-induced twist in the lid portion (30). Still further, theexpansively directed force is controlled to have a magnitude thatincreases compared to that imposed across the range of motion (T) of thelid portion (30) when operating in proximity of the open configuration(U). Further yet, the expansively directed force is controlled, throughconfiguration of the pair of spring-biased struts (50), to have asubstantially zero magnitude when the lid portion (30) is in the closedconfiguration. This feature avoids fatigue being induced at thestrut-engaging portions of the lid portion (30) and bottom portion (32)of the cargo box (10).

1. A vehicular mountable cargo container comprising: a top portion ofsaid vehicular mountable cargo container hinge-connected for pivotationrelative to a bottom portion of the cargo container between open andclosed configurations; a pair of spring-biased struts, each operativelyinterposed between said top and bottom portions of said vehicularmountable cargo container, and one each of said pair of spring-biasedstruts located at opposed end regions of the cargo container; and eachof said pair of spring-biased struts being configured to exclusivelydeliver an expansion force between the top and bottom portions of thecargo container for urging the container toward the open configurationand each of said pair of spring-biased struts comprising: a cam surfaceprovided at one of two arms of the strut, said cam surface establishinga surficial interaction between said two arms during transitions betweenfirst and second strut orientations; and a force communication pointdefined by a point of support of a non-cam surface including arm on acam-including arm at said cam surface and which moves across the camsurface as said two arms pivot relative to one another between saidfirst and second strut orientations during which said forcecommunication point remains exclusively on one side of a line orientedparallel to a direction of an operationally effective force imposed bysaid biasing spring between said two arms and intersecting a pivotconnection between said two arms.
 2. The vehicular mountable cargocontainer as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said pair ofspring-biased struts is configured to avoid delivering a closing-assistforce between the top and bottom portions of the cargo container thaturges the container toward the closed configuration.
 3. The vehicularmountable cargo container as recited in claim 1, wherein each of saidpair of spring-biased struts is configured to prevent delivering aclosing-assist force between the top and bottom portions of the cargocontainer that urges the container toward the closed configuration. 4.The vehicular mountable cargo container as recited in claim 1, whereineach of said pair of spring-biased struts is configured to perform insubstantial unison, one with the other, thereby urging maintenance of aparallel orientation of said top portion, relative to said bottomportion of said cargo container when transitioned by an operator betweenthe open and closed configurations.
 5. The vehicular mountable cargocontainer as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said pair ofspring-biased struts is configured to perform in substantial unison, onewith the other, thereby preventing an inducement of said top portion totorque, relative to said bottom portion of said cargo container whentransitioned by an operator between the open and closed configurations.6. A method for providing and controlling operation of a dual sidedopening roof mount cargo box for a carrying vehicle, said methodcomprising: providing a dual sided opening roof mount cargo box having alid portion releasably hinge-connected at two lateral sides to a bottomportion of said cargo box for alternate pivotation at each of the twolateral sides between open and closed configurations, said bottomportion being adapted to be mounted to a carrying vehicle and said lidportion being manufactured from a semi-flexible material sufficientlypliable to permit two opposite end regions thereof to be at differentrelative distances from the bottom portion of the cargo box duringtransition between the open and closed configurations; providing a pairof spring-biased struts, each operatively interposed between said lidportion and said bottom portion of said cargo box, and one each of saidpair of spring-biased struts being located at said two opposite endregions of said cargo box; imposing an expansively directed force onsaid lid portion, utilizing said pair of spring-biased struts, across asubstantial entirety of travel of said lid portion during operatorinduced movement from said closed configuration to said openconfiguration and thereby smoothly urging the cargo box open;controlling said expansively directed force, through configuration ofsaid pair of spring-biased struts, to have a magnitude thatsubstantially balances a weight of said lid portion across a range ofmotion of said lid portion when operating in proximity of said closedconfiguration and wherein each of said pair of spring-biased strutsfurther comprises: two arms operatively connected for pivotationrelative to one another through a delimited range of motion; a biasingspring operatively interposed between said two arms for operationalinfluence during transition between first and second strut orientationsthat correspond to said open and closed configurations of said cargobox; said two arms connected, one each, to said lid and bottom portionsof said cargo box thereby enabling said strut to deliver saidexpansively directed force for urging the cargo box into the openconfiguration; a cam surface provided at one of said two arms andthereby establishing a cam-including arm and a non-cam-including arm,said cam surface establishing a surficial interaction between said twoarms during transitions between said first and second strutorientations; delimiters configured to limit the range of relativemotion between said two arms so that throughout the entire range oftransitional motion of said strut between said first and second strutorientations, said operationally effective force imposed by said biasingspring between said two arms urges exclusively unidirectional pivotationof said cam-including arm relative to said non-cam-including arm; and aforce communication point being defined by a point of support of saidnon-cam-including arm on said cam-including arm at said cam surface andwhich moves across said cam surface as said two arms pivot relative toone another between said first and second strut orientations duringwhich said force communication point remains exclusively on one side ofa line oriented parallel to a direction of said operationally effectiveforce imposed by said biasing spring between said two arms andintersecting a pivot connection between said two arms.
 7. The method asrecited in claim 6, wherein each of said pair of spring-biased strutsfurther comprises: said non-cam-including arm comprising an arm bodyhousing a spring biased slider therein, said slider being configured forrelative reciprocation within said arm body and said slider presenting areception surface for establishing a sliding point of contact with saidcam surface of said cam-including arm; said sliding point of contactcoinciding with said force communication point.
 8. A method forproviding and controlling operation of a dual sided opening roof mountcargo box for a carrying vehicle, said method comprising: providing adual sided opening roof mount cargo box having a lid portion releasablyhinge-connected at two lateral sides to a bottom portion of said cargobox for alternate pivotation at each of the two lateral sides betweenopen and closed configurations, said bottom portion being adapted to bemounted to a carrying vehicle and said lid portion being manufacturedfrom a semi-flexible material sufficiently pliable to permit twoopposite end regions thereof to be at different relative distances fromthe bottom portion of the cargo box during transition between the openand closed configurations; providing a pair of spring-biased struts,each operatively interposed between said lid portion and said bottomportion of said cargo box, and one each of said pair of spring-biasedstruts being located at said two opposite end regions of said cargo box;imposing an expansively directed force on said lid portion, utilizingsaid pair of spring-biased struts, across a substantial entirety oftravel of said lid portion during operator induced movement from saidclosed configuration to said open configuration and thereby smoothlyurging the cargo box open; controlling said expansively directed force,through configuration of said pair of spring-biased struts, to have amagnitude that substantially balances a weight of said lid portionacross a range of motion of said lid portion when operating in proximityof said closed configuration; and wherein each of said pair ofspring-biased struts comprises: two arms operatively connected forpivotation relative to one another through a delimited range of motion;a biasing spring operatively interposed between said two arms foroperational influence during transition between first and second strutorientations that correspond to said open and closed configurations ofsaid cargo box; said two arms connected, one each, to said lid andbottom portions of said cargo box thereby enabling said strut to deliversaid expansively directed force for urging the cargo box into the openconfiguration; a cam surface provided at one of said two arms andthereby establishing a cam-including arm and a non-cam-including arm,said cam surface establishing a surficial interaction between said twoarms during transitions between said first and second strutorientations; and a force communication point being defined by a pointof support of the non-cam-including arm on said cam-including arm atsaid cam surface and which moves across the cam surface as said two armspivot relative to one another between said first and second strutorientations during which said force communication point remainsexclusively on one side of a line oriented parallel to a direction ofsaid operationally effective force imposed by said biasing springbetween said two arms and intersecting a pivot connection between saidtwo arms.
 9. The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising:controlling said expansively directed force, through configuration ofsaid pair of spring-biased struts, to have a magnitude that increasescompared to that imposed across the range of motion of said lid portionwhen operating in proximity of said open configuration.
 10. The methodas recited in claim 8, further comprising: controlling said expansivelydirected force, through configuration of said pair of spring-biasedstruts, to have a substantially zero magnitude when said lid portion isin said closed configuration and thereby avoiding fatigue inducement atthe strut-engaging portions of the lid portion and bottom portion of thecargo box.
 11. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein each of saidpair of spring-biased struts further comprises: a cam surface providedat one of said two arms and thereby establishing a cam-including arm anda non-cam-including arm, said cam surface establishing a surficialinteraction between said two arms during transitions between said firstand second strut orientations; and delimiters configured to limit therange of relative motion between said two arms so that throughout theentire range of transitional motion of said strut between said first andsecond strut orientations, said operationally effective force imposed bysaid biasing spring between said two arms urges exclusivelyunidirectional pivotation of said cam-including arm relative to saidnon-cam-including arm.
 12. The method as recited in claim 8, whereineach of said pair of spring-biased struts further comprises: saidoperationally effective force imposed by said biasing spring betweensaid two arms being a summation of a plurality of vector forces imposedby said biasing spring between said two arms.
 13. The method as recitedin claim 8, wherein each of said pair of spring-biased struts isconfigured to prevent the provision of a closing-assist force betweensaid lid portion and said bottom portion that urges said cargo boxtoward the closed configuration.
 14. The method as recited in claim 8,wherein each of said pair of spring-biased struts is configured toperform in substantial unison, one with the other, thereby urgingmaintenance of a parallel orientation of said lid portion, relative tosaid bottom portion of said cargo box when transitioned by an operatorbetween the open and closed configurations.
 15. The method as recited inclaim 8, wherein each of said pair of spring-biased struts is configuredto perform in substantial unison, one with the other, thereby preventingan inducement of said lid portion to torque, relative to said bottomportion of said cargo box when transitioned by an operator between theopen and closed configurations.
 16. The method as recited in claim 8,wherein each of said pair of spring-biased struts further comprises:said non-cam-including arm comprising an arm body housing a springbiased slider therein, said slider being configured for relativereciprocation within said arm body and said slider presenting areception surface for establishing a sliding point of contact with saidcam surface of said cam-including arm; said sliding point of contactcoinciding with said force communication point.
 17. The method asrecited in claim 16, wherein each of said pair of spring-biased strutsfurther comprises: said line oriented parallel to the direction of saidoperationally effective force imposed by said biasing spring betweensaid two arms and intersecting a pivot connection between said two armsbeing further oriented substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis ofthe non-cam-including arm.